Tamil Nadu   

“India to generate 20,000 MW of nuclear power by 2020”

Jairam Ramesh

TIRUCHI: Exuding confidence that the UPA government would win the trust vote over the nuclear deal issue, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Power Jairam Ramesh said on Sunday that the country intended to generate 20,000 MW of nuclear power by 2020.

A total of 10,000 MW of nuclear power would be generated from indigenous reactors, 8,000 MW from light water reactors and 2,000 MW from Fast Breeder Reactors. He emphasised the need for converting the high nuclear capability of India into power generation through ensuring constant supply of uranium.

Against the nuclear capability of 4,020 MW, India could generate only 1,800 MW (45 per cent) last year due to uranium shortage. Citing the instance of the Kalpakkam plant where only 190 MW could be generated against the capacity of 440 MW, the Minister said the operation of the plants ought to be at 90 per cent capacity as was the case two years ago owing to uranium adequacy. He was confident that the 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor coming up at Kalpakkam would be commissioned by September 2011.

To emphasise on Indian capability on the nuclear energy front, he cited the instances of the recent appointment of S.K. Jain, Chairman and Managing Director of Nuclear Power Corporation, as president of the WANO (World Association of Nuclear Operators); Baldev Raj, Director, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, as the head of the Expert Group on Fast Breeder Reactors constituted by the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), and the membership of R. Chidambaram, Scientific Advisor to Prime Minister in the Commission formed by the IAEA to prepare its vision document for the next 25 years.

The success of the nuclear deal would provide numerous opportunities for Indian scientists and technologists to participate in international programmes, the Minister said.

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